Controlling device for self-playing pianos.



, R. J. BENNETT. CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SELF PLAYINGPIANOS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 25, 1909.

. Patented May 14, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J. BENNETT, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO ARTISTA PIANO PLAYER COMPANY, OF MILAN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SELF-PLAYING PIANOS.

Application filed August 25, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Moline, Rock Island count-y, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Controlling Devices for Self-Playing Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to player pianos, or piano players, as the case may be, and has for its object the combination, in an improved manner, of certain devices for operating the mechanism controlling the automatic playing into a convenient arrangement that may be entirely concealed when not in use, and which will at the same time take up but little space within the instrument.

A further object is the arrangement of bodily movable handles or controlling levers and devices in strong and compact form, and in such shape as to be least liable to get out of working order.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by my invention, embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my device with the parts exposed. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

referring now to the drawings-3 represents the key slip and 4; the key rail of a piano. A cavity or recess 5 in the key slip opens into a large recess 6 in the key rail. A cover 7 is pivoted at 8 to the key slip adapted to completely cover the recess 5 when turned as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. A pair of expression or action levers 9, 10, are mounted to slide within the recess 5, and are connected in any well-known manner with the tone modifiers and other mechanisms of the player piano. The operating levers 9, 10, are hinged at 11, 12, permitting the dropping of the fingers 13, 14, out of sight within the recess 5. A lever 15 is mounted on a pivot 16 near the bottom of the recess 6. The long arm 17 of this lever is provided with upwardly extending lugs 18, 19, and adapted at all times to rest. against and support the levers 9, 10. Seated within the small recess 20 in the key slip is a push-button 21, the stem 22 of which rests on the end of the short arm 23 of the lever Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Serial No. 514,471.

15. A spring latch 24 is adapted to engage grooves or teeth 25 in the stem 22.

Referring now to the operation of my clevice, let us consider the cover 7 in place over the recesses 5 and 20, and the levers and mechanism in the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The cover is swung about as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and the pushbutton 21 pressed downwardly. The short arm of the lever is depressed and the lugs 18, 19, on the long arm carry the levers 9, 10, upwardly until the fingers 13, 14, are exposed as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The spring latch 24 holds the levers in upright position. The levers are now in position to actuate the mechanism controlling the automatic or mechanical playing. I find it convenient to use the finger 13 and lever 9 as a tempo regulator, and the finger 14 and lever 10 as a rewind and skip key. For instance, when the lever is moved toward the left it actuates the rewind mechanism, and when it is moved toward the right it serves as a skip key.

WVhen it is desired to restore the levers to their inoperative or lowered position it is merely necessary to press downward upon them, in which case the downward pressure upon the long end of the lever 15 causes an upward pressure upon the short end, thereby forcing the push-button 21 to its upper position. It is held in this position by means of the spring latch engaging with the lower groove 25 in the stem 22.

It is evident that other lepers or handles may be added to control the expression devices, or a duplicate of the mechanism could be installed in the key slip, apart from that shown.

The mechanism is simple in structure, but very efficient, and is not subject to disarrangement of parts. The two handles, although bodily movable to control the playing mechanism, are depressible, and a cover is provided for concealing them when thus depressed,that is, when thus thrown out of use.

I claim:

1. In a player piano, the combination with a key slip, a recess the-rein, of levers for actuating the player mechanism mounted in said recess, and a pivoted lever for throwing said levers into operative position.

2. In a player piano, the combination with a key slip having a recess therein, of levers for controlling the player mechanism, mounted in' said recess, and a pivoted lever, one arm of said lever supporting said actuating levers, and a stem adapted to engage the other, whereby said actuating levers may be thrown into operative position.

3. In a player piano, the combination with a key slip, a key rail, said slip and rail being provided with communicating recesses, of a plurality of operating levers mounted in said recesses, connections with said levers and the automatic player mechanism, a pivoted lever mounted in the recess in said rail and engaging said levers, and means for actuating said pivoted lever to throw said levers into operative position.

4. In a player piano, the combination with a key slip, a key rail, said slip and railbeing provided with communicating recesses, of a plurality of operating levers mounted in said recesses, connections with said levers and the automatic player mechanism, a pivoted lever mounted in the recess in said rail and engaging said levers, and a push-button mounted in said key slip and provided with a stem adapted to engage one arm of said pivoted lever and to throw said operating levers into operative position.

5. In a player piano, the combination with a key slip having a recess therein, of levers for actuating the player mechanism mountcd in said recess, a pivoted lever, one arm of said lever supporting said actuating levers and a stem adapted to engage the other, whereby said actuating levers may be thrown into or out of operative position, and a covering plate mounted on said key slip and arranged to cover said recess and levers when said levers are out of operative position.

6. In a player piano, the combination with a key slip, a key rail, said slip and rail being provided with communicating recesses,

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of a plurality of operating levers mounted in said recesses, connections with said levers and the automatic player mechanism, a pivoted lever mounted in the recess in said rail and engaging said operating levers, means for actuating said pivoted lever to throw said levers into operative position, and a covering plate mounted on said key slip and arranged to cover said recess and levers when said levers are out of operative position.

7. In a. player piano, the combination with a key slip having a recess therein, of levers for actuating the player mechanism mounted in said recess, and means for throwing said levers into and out of operative position.

8. In a player piano, the combination with a key slip having a recess therein, of levers for actuating the player mechanism mounted in said recess, said levers when in operative position comprising a substantially horizontal portion, and a handle extending at right angles thereto and projecting above said key-slip, said horizontal portion being pivoted and adapted to be moved downward into said recess into inoperative position.

9. In playing mechanism, a key slip, a controlling handle mounted therein, and a key for throwing said handle int-o operative position.

10. In a player piano, playing nism, a handle for controlling said mechanism and a key for throwing said handle into operative position, and means controlled by said handle for restoring said key to operative position.

Signed by me at Rock Island, Illinois, this 20 day of August 1909.

ROBERT J. BENNETT.

mechalVitnesses WILLIAM E. THOMPSON, SHERMAN IV. SEARLS.

Washington, D. 0. 

